COVID-19 POLICIES & PROCEDURES:
PPE for employees and guests:
All employees will be wearing masks. Gloves will be worn when appropriate. Hand-washing will be done regularly. All of this is to keep our staff and guests safe at all times.
All guests will be asked to wear masks in common areas of the buildings unless they are actively eating similarly to restaurant requirements. This is a state guideline for all of Rhode Island. We ask that guests bring their own reusable masks. Single use masks will be available for guests who may lose, soil, or otherwise need masks. While gloves are not generally recommended by the health professionals, they will also be available if guests have a desire to use them for various purposes. Hand sanitizer stations will be placed at all points of entry and common areas. Pumps will be available in rooms along with the hand soap. Disinfecting wipes will be available nearby any common high touch points.
Check-in:
Guests will be called the day before arrival to confirm expected arrival times off of the ferry. We ask that guests follow the arrival times given to us. This will allow us to clean the rooms in an appropriate order to allow faster check-ins, as well as, to expect your arrival at the front door and be prepared to handle all arriving guests in a timely and efficient manner. If there is a line at the front door of guests arriving at the same time, social distancing is expected to be followed for everyone’s safety. There is a seating area to the right of the building for anyone that needs to sit during the short wait. We will do our best to get everyone checked-in quickly and back to enjoying the day.
NO EARLY CHECK-INS OR LATE CHECK-OUTS will be guaranteed this summer. We will do our best to continue to get everyone checked in as early as possible, however we will be spending more time than ever before in the rooms between guests to make sure everything is properly disinfected. This means that we need to strictly adhere to our 11am check-out time and our 3pm check-in time.
Dropping off bags will still be permitted. Bags will be kept in the parlor. We ask that guests please avoid touching other people’s property to get to bags. If assistance is needed, please ask the Innkeeper. In the case of overcrowding of bags, we may move some to the dining room to disperse the clutter between check-out and check-in.
Upon check-in to the room, every guest will be given a Welcome Packet, slightly different from years past. This packet will include all information normally in room binders (wifi passwords, building specifics) and it will also include all of our new COVID-19 procedures. We ask that all guests flip through this so that they know the changes and are able to continue having an enjoyable stay. There will be a PDF version available that we can text or email to you to save paper resources. A print out version will also be available for those that would prefer it.
An easy text number will be provided for any guests to contact the Innkeeper at any time. Some amenities will not be readily in rooms, but can be available upon request. If anything is needed, please contact the Innkeeper and we will promptly help.
Keys will be disinfected in between each guest use. There will be a box for keys on the desk at check out. Please remember to drop them in the box before you leave so that we can get them cleaned for the next guest.
Breakfast:
Single serve coffee pots will be provided in every room supplied with coffee, creamer, various sugars, tea bags, and coffee mugs. Each room will be supplied for a daily cup of regular coffee per guest per day. We can easily provide more for those guests that would like an extra cup. Let us know if you need more of anything or if you prefer french vanilla or decaf, it is available. We encourage guests to take home any extra coffee amenities (please NOT the machine or mugs), as we will be disposing of any remaining in the room after check-out and resupplying fresh amenities for new guests.
Breakfast will be a bit different this year. Cottages and suites will be supplied with a menu under their door in the evening. Menus need to be filled out and left in the receptacle by the Blue Dory back door by 5am in order to receive breakfast. If breakfast is not wanted, we ask that it is indicated so that we do not disturb your morning.
If indicated breakfast will be delivered to all of the cottages and suites based on the time designated by the guest on the menu. All of the cottages and suites have indoor and outdoor seating that can be used to enjoy breakfast. Please leave trays and dishes at the door to be collected when done. Guests of the Doll House and Blue Dory (main house) can choose to have breakfast in the dining room where they will select from buffet items that will be plated and served by the Blue Dory staff at their selected table inside or outside. The menu for breakfast for Avonlea guests will be posted on the living room piano by 5pm each day. Guests will make their selections on the form found next to the posted menu. After selections are made the form is placed in the “Breakfast Selections” receptacle on the piano. Please include both guest and room names. In addition guests can choose to pick up their breakfast at a time designated on the selections form and be seated in their preferred dining space, either inside or outside. Please be patient as we take the necessary time to disinfect tables between guests. All tables inside and outside will be spaced 8 feet apart per RI state guidelines. Please do not move tables. If there are larger groups, we can combine tables to accommodate more than 2 people.
Wine Hour:
Due to social distancing requirements, we will not be having wine hour in the parlors as usual, but we know your afternoon wine and cookies are important! We will deliver wine hour to the rooms at 5:30 every evening. This can be enjoyed in the room or can be taken outside. Lemonade is also always available.
On the Cottages and suites breakfast menu, there is a wine hour section to check if cookies are wanted, and asking for a red or wine wine preference. Add quantity for each so we know how many people are partaking. If wine hour is not wanted, we ask that it is indicated on the breakfast order so that we do not disturb your evening. For Blue Dory and Doll House guests we will provide a wine hour selection menu daily, if you would like to partake in the wine hour please fill out the menu by 5pm and place in the receptacle in the Blue Dory lobby. If you do not wish to participate in the wine hour, please indicate on the menu. If plans change during the day, please inform the Innkeeper via call or text. On the day of check-in, there will be a menu at your door at the time of check-in to fill out by 5pm so we can deliver it to you by 5:30.
Avonlea guests will have their wine-hour selections included on the daily breakfast form. Guests may indicate whether they would prefer their wine and cookies delivered to their room or enjoyed in their preferred seating area, either inside or outside.
Daily Housekeeping:
We will not be entering the room during a guest stay following the guidance of multiple sanitation authorities. As always we encourage the reuse of towels to conserve water and resources. If new towels are needed during the stay, they can be requested by contacting the Innkeeper via call or text. There are laundry bags supplied in every room. We ask that dirty towels are put into these laundry bags and left at the door. We will provide clean towels in a new bag. If the trash needs to be removed, we ask that the bags are enclosed and also left by the door. There are garbage bags in the waste baskets to replace the old one. Use of the A/C units or having windows open are encouraged as free airflow and air purifying is encouraged by the CDC. Receptacles for recycle items are located on each floor of the Blue Dory (main house) please use these designated bins for bottles, cans, plastic and newspaper.
Amenities:
A guest refrigerator will be available for necessities at both Blue Dory and Avonlea. We ask that they are only used for necessity items. There will be gloves and disinfectant wipes available for use when using the guest refrigerator. Please refrain from touching anything that is not yours. Please label items with a name and date. We will clean it out and disinfect daily.
There is ice available upon request. To prevent multiple guests from using the ice machine please ask the Innkeeper for ice. There are ice buckets available to keep the ice cold. Plan ahead if the ice is needed late into the evening.
Extra blankets, pillows, and towels are available upon request. Please contact the Innkeeper if you are in need of additional items in the room.
Beach Chairs:
Beach chairs and beach towels will be provided in the cottages and suites upon arrival. These are your chairs and towels for the duration of your stay. Please wipe sand off and bring them back to the suite or cottage upon return from the beach. For guests of the Avonlea, Blue Dory (main house) and the Doll House beach chairs and towels are found at the rear of Blue Dory. Upon return from the beach please place the chairs in the designated return location and towels in the return basket. We will be disinfecting beach chairs between guest use.
Special Touches:
Special touches are still available. Please make sure to call ahead to arrange bottles of wine, champagne, flowers, cookies by the dozen, or other requests. We do our best to have these in the room upon check-in. We guarantee them in the room by wine hour (5:30) on the day of check-in.
Pets:
Pets are still allowed in all of the cottages, suites, Arabelline, and Avalon rooms in the Blue Dory. Avonlea does not allow pets or children under 16. Other Blue Dory rooms do not allow pets, however children can stay in any room where the extra beds are available.
Souvenirs:
Blue Dory and Avonlea souvenirs are still available to take home with you and are displayed in the common areas. Please avoid touching any of these items unless you are purchasing one. We are doing our best to keep every area clean. This would help us greatly.
Library:
We have a library of books and dvds that guests can use. Please do not touch any of these items unless you plan to watch or read them. If you do take a book, we encourage you to take it home if you have not finished it. Please return these items to the Innkeeper rather than to the shelves so that we can disinfect before returning them to the library.
General Terms & Conditions:
At Block Island Inns, every guest reservation is both important and special to us. We are happy to offer extra amenities; call us 48 hours before your arrival to arrange special touches at an additional fee.
We do take a 50% before tax deposit upon booking to secure your reservation. Final balance is due upon check-in.
If your travel plans change and you must cancel your reservation, please call us at least 30 days prior to your arrival date to cancel your reservation and receive a full refund of your deposit(off-season from September 15 – June 15 will only require a 2 week notice). We do not offer refunds or credits for late arrivals or early departures.
In the unlikely event that you must cancel with less than 30 days notice, we will hold onto your deposit. It will be saved in our system as a credit for you, and you can use it towards a future visit. Note: Our off-season from September 15 – June 15 will only require a 2 week notice.
If the ferry or airline is cancelled due to inclement weather you have the choice of confirming for the remainder of your visit or requesting a gift certificate towards a future stay. If the ferry or airline is cancelled and you are unable to leave the island, the rate will be 50% of our regular room rate.
Rates/policies are subject to change and vary during high impact periods and special requests. A 60 day cancellation notice is required on whole house bookings and for holidays and special events.
*Check-in: 3:00 PM. If arriving after 7:00 PM, please call to make arrangements. You may drop off bags prior to check-in.
*Check-out: 11:00 AM. You are welcome to leave your bags with us until your scheduled ferry.
Generally, we require a 2 (two) night minimum May 1 through October 15. Holidays require a 3 (three) night minimum. No nightly minimum required in the off season October 16 – April 30. One night exceptions are made in high season, when one night openings are available.
Absolutely No Smoking inside or on porches; however designated outdoor smoking areas are available. There is a $150 fee for smoking inside.
Inn rates are based on double occupancy. Please be sure to confirm your accommodations if you are traveling with more than two guests. There is an additional $20 per night fee for each additional person.
Check-in is available for the Blue Dory Inn and all Cottages, Waverly Suites and Sherman Cottage are located at the Blue Dory Inn at 61 Dodge St.
Check-In for the Avonlea, Jewel of the Sea is located at 597 Corn Neck Rd.
Children of all ages are welcome at the Blue Dory Inn. Pets are welcome in the Avalon and Arabelline rooms only.
Pets and children of all ages are welcome in all of the cottages and suites. There is an additional pet fee of $50 per stay.
The Avonlea is happy to accommodate children over the age of 16. There are no pets permitted in this facility.
Block Island Inns takes the security of your information seriously. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the appropriate use of your information, Block Island Inns has implemented numerous physical, electronic and administrative procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. However, it is impossible for us to fully guarantee that these measures will prevent any or all unauthorized use of your information. We also do not share, sell or give to any 3rd party’s any personal or private information except when processing your credit card payment your credit card details are provided to our PCI Compliant Payment Processor and Gateway to process your payment only no data is saved during the payment process.
Block Island Inns accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
Cancellation Policy:
If your travel plans change and you must cancel your reservation, please call us at least 30 days prior to your arrival date to cancel your reservation (off-season from September 15 – June 15 will only require a 2 week notice). We do not offer refunds or credits for late arrivals or early departures.
In the unlikely event that you must cancel with less than 30 days notice, we will hold onto your deposit. It will be saved in our system as a credit for you, and you can use it towards a future visit. Note: Our off-season from September 15 – June 15 will only require a 2 week notice.
If the ferry or airline is cancelled due to inclement weather you have the choice of confirming for the remainder of your visit or requesting a gift certificate towards a future stay. If the ferry or airline is cancelled and you are unable to leave the island, the rate will be 50% of our regular room rate.
Rates/policies are subject to change and vary during high impact periods and special requests. A 60 day cancellation notice is required on whole house bookings and for holidays and special events.
In-climate Weather/ Ferry Cancellation Policy
If the ferry or airline is cancelled due to inclement weather you have the choice of confirming for the remainder of your visit or requesting a credit towards a future stay.
If you are on the island and the ferry or airline is cancelled, we charge a reduced rate of 50% of the room rate for any additional nights caused by cancellations.
Pet Policy
The Blue Dory Inn welcomes you and your pet! All of the cottages and suites are pet friendly, as well as the Avalon and Arabelline rooms in the Blue Dory Inn.
- There is a $50 nonrefundable fee for each pet.
- Pets are permitted on the beach; however, it is best that they be on a leash.
- Please clean up after your pet for the enjoyment of all.
- Please make sure that your pet is properly vaccinated since you will be responsible if your pet should injure someone.
- A hose is available on the south side of the Blue Dory to wash your pet off when coming off the beach.
- We will provide pet blankets for your utilization in order to protect the furnishings, therefore, please leave blankets in the room upon your departure.
- Should your pet cause damage to linens, walls, doors, rugs, etc. please bring this to our attention so that we may provide you with a cost for replacement and we will charge the credit card on file. If the cost is not readily known, we will contact you with this information and we will charge the credit card on file.
- We ask that you not leave your pet unattended in the room as they tend to bark in strange environments. On occasion, we have made special arrangements to allow pets to be unattended if we have a cell phone number to contact you at all times.
